KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Six Kansas City-area establishments and chefs have been named semifinalists for the 2024 James Beard Award, one of the most prestigious culinary awards.
Shawnee bar Drastic Measures is once again a semifinalist for Outstanding Bar. It was named as a finalist in the category last year.
Drastic Measures, located near Nieman Road and Johnson Drive, opened in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kansas City Business Journal reports for its first six months, the bar didn’t turn a profit, but two years later, revenue climbed nearly 80%.
Kansas City’s Affäre has been named a semifinalist in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverage Program category. It’s the modern German restaurant’s first time making the semifinalist list.
Three local chefs have also been named as semifinalists for the first time:
- Katie Liu-Sung of Chewology in Kansas City — Best Chef: Midwest
- Romain Monnoyeur of Westport Cafe — Best Chef: Midwest
- Jeff Workman of The Campground in Kansas City — Emerging Chef
Chewology, which serves Taiwanese-inspired street food, moved from Lenexa to Westport, opening in Bluestem’s longtime space in 2021. Liu-Sung is known for her hand-crafted dumplings, bao and more.
Johnny Leach of The Town Company, which is located inside Hotel Kansas City, was also named a semifinalist in the Best Chef: Midwest category. Leach was named an Outstanding Chef semifinalist last year.
Kansas City is no stranger to James Beard Award finalists and winners.
Last year, Kansas City bakery Yoli Tortilleria won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Bakery.
The bakery, located near 17th and Jefferson streets, is known for its authentic and high-quality tortillas and also has a retail shop. Yoli Tortilleria’s owners Mark and Marissa Gencarelli said business skyrocketed a whopping 700% in the month after it won the award.